Purification and characterization of a ribonuclease specific for poly(U) and poly(C) from the larvae of Ceratitis capitata.

A specific ribonuclease was detected and purified to homogeneity from six-day-old larvae of the insect Ceratitis capitata and its homogeneity was checked by analysis in polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The nuclease specifically degrades poly(U) and poly(C) whilst it fails to do so with other single-stranded homopolyribonucleotides. The enzyme has a pH optimum in the region 7-9 and relative molecular mass of about 25,000. The effect of this ribonuclease on the integrity of RNAs isolated from six-day-old larvae or rat liver was also studied.